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Cotton Days Celebrate U.S. Cotton Across Asia

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Star-studded celebrities, fashion designers, musicians and consumers gathered across Asia to celebrate their shared love of U.S. cotton during COTTON USA "Cotton Days" in Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Thailand. This year, Cotton Days also celebrated the 26th anniversary of COTTON USA while illustrating the genuine, passionate and visionary aspects of the brand.

Cotton Council International (CCI) President Dahlen Hancock, a U.S. cotton producer, traveled to Asia to represent the U.S. cotton industry in each city.

“Experiencing Cotton Days first hand, you truly feel the energy, enthusiasm, support and trust in superior U.S. cotton," Hancock said. "It’s our reputation built up over the years in these important markets that sets us apart and makes us the fiber of choice. Let’s keep the momentum!”

Cotton Day festivities kicked off in Korea with a fashion event directed by Korean fashion icons Mack & Logan, which featured fabulous cotton womenswear in vivid and stylish themes, as well as denim ready-to-wear items. U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert attended the COTTON USA event and made a congratulatory speech to COTTON USA and the success of the Korean textile and fashion industry. Through cooperation with the Spinners and Weavers Association of Korea, COTTON USA provided the opportunity for young Korean designers to showcase their creativity through the “Cotton T-Shirt Design Contest.” The event closed with COTTON USA music stars “Epic High,” who entertained the audience with their most recent hit songs.

In Japan, CCI provided opportunities for designers to showcase their creativity through a T-shirt design contest, in cooperation with the Japan Spinners’ Association, Japan Cotton Promotion Institute and Cotton Incorporated. More than 400 industry and media representatives celebrated Cotton Day in Japan. COTTON USA spokesperson Miss Tomoe Shinohara showed a collection of three cotton dresses she designed, which referenced the sun, a blue sky and light for Cotton Day. She also recognized three leading Japanese actors and celebrities (Miss Ann Nakamura, Mr. Tsuyoshi Ihara and Mrs. Miki Fujimoto) as COTTON USA’s brand ambassadors for its key audiences.

The celebrations continued in Taiwan with a live music concert by new COTTON USA ambassador group Cosmos People. The band created a COTTON USA theme song “And You” to link with ”I Love My Cotton,” which its record company will promote with a music video. Eelin top models presented a fashion show featuring the women's fashion brand Chaber, a COTTON USA licensee, as well as Stefanel and Carnival brands. CCI President Hancock presented COTTON USA licensee certificates to its spinner partners Far Eastern New Century Corp., Tah Tong Textiles, Tai Yuen Textiles, Chia Her Group and Tah Yao Textile. More than 160 representatives from the press and COTTON USA licensees and consumers participated. The radio station “Voice of Taipei” interviewed Hancock and COTTON USA representatives about Cotton Day, increasing consumer awareness of the event. In celebration of Cotton Day, consumers in Taiwan also had the opportunity to join a lucky draw for 2015 HITO Music Awards and Golden Music Festival activities.

Cotton Days concluded the tour of Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, with an exciting “I Love My Cotton” fashion show. Taking COTTON USA’s three essential promises of “purity,” “quality” and “responsibility,” CCI selected three top Thai designers and challenged them to craft new garment designs made with 100% cotton fabrics supplied by COTTON USA-licensed fabric mills in Thailand. A second fashion show featuring COTTON USA garments supplied by 34 COTTON USA licensees in Thailand capped off the show, illustrating the versatility and importance of cotton for the entire family. CCI President Hancock thanked the Thai textile and garment industries for their loyal and continued support of high quality U.S. cotton. Another Texas native, U.S. Agricultural Counselor Bobby Richey, rounded off the event with his reflections of growing up in Lubbock, TX, where his family still operates a cotton farm. More than 500 participants from the Thai fashion and consumer media covered the show for broadcast across Thailand.